Dade stood taller and straightened his shoulders. “No. I refuse to be intimidated. Let’s eat here. But if my father decides to be a pain, don’t get too embarrassed when I make a scene. It’s one of the few things I know that will get under his skin.” Dade laughed. “I’m just kidding. I would never embarrass you on purpose.”
They found a table, and Cliff wondered exactly what kind of battle he was getting into the middle of. He definitely knew which side he was on and intended to back Dade up if needed.
Their server took their orders, and they were well into their drinks before Dade’s father realized they were there. Cliff saw the moment of recognition. He pushed back his chair from the prime seat at the bar and came over like he was ready to storm the battlements.
“What did you think you were doing?”
“Excuse me, Father, you remember Cliff from the other night,” Dade said, putting his father off balance.
“Yes, I do.” He hesitated, and Dade took the initiative.
“Good.” Dade smiled and acted like there was nothing wrong and he hadn’t been hopping mad a few hours earlier.
“I understand Headmaster Groves called you and you passed on the job. Do you have any idea how that made me look?Thankfully, he called me back, and I told him you’d be available to start after the first of the year. I wasn’t going to let you make a mistake like that.”
Dade sighed. “I know. He called me as well, and I reassured him that I make my own decisions and that you had overstepped. Headmaster Groves was quite understanding. I believe he’s met plenty of overbearing parents in his job and knows how to handle them.”
Cliff kept his reaction to himself and sipped his beer to keep from laughing.
The general leaned close, and Cliff grew concerned. “You’ll call him back and take the job or….” He jumped back, the front of his pants wet as water dripped down the side of the table from Dade’s overturned water glass.
Dade held his enraged father’s gaze, and Cliff realized the war between the two of them was really beginning to heat up.
“He neverlistens to anyone else. The officers and enlisted that served under him always seemed to adore my father. He would fight for them and what they needed tooth and nail. And while my father always took the posting he wanted and jumped at every opportunity, he understood that others weren’t able to do that.” Dade placed his chicken sandwich back in the basket the server had delivered it in. “I just don’t understand why he doesn’t give the same consideration to his family that he did to the rest of the world.”
Cliff paused before picking up his sandwich. “Maybe it’s because he sees you as part of himself, so he wanted to see more of himself in you. He’s your father, so maybe in his mind, your identity is linked to his.” He shrugged because he was struggling to see it as well. Cliff had heard about General Saracina’s reputation on post, and it was in stark contrast to what he waswitnessing with Dade. “I wish I knew and could decode it for you. Parents always look for themselves in their kids. They start when they’re born, looking for similarities. I think that’s a way of assuring themselves that their child will be like them in some meaningful way.”
Dade snorted. “But I am like him.” He took another bite and wiped the aioli off his mouth. “Let me ask you something. You were obviously brilliant and a high achiever in high school. You probably could have gone anywhere for college. Why West Point? Why the army? Why did you want this?”
Cliff paused only a second. “I know it sounds cliché, but I wanted to help people and to be part of something important. I wanted to serve my country and my community.”
“So do I,” Dade said. “But I want to do it in my own way. I’m helping teach the next generation of kids. I’m part of something bigger than just me, and all of us teachers and administrators are working to make sure our kids have the tools they need to succeed. The tools they need so you and the army will be able to help them serve. Without what I do, you don’t have qualified recruits. Yes, I could take my skills elsewhere and make more money, but I couldn’t do anything more important than what I am right now. At least that’s my opinion. But my father just can’t seem to grasp it. There are a ton of different ways to serve, and not all of then involve camouflage.”
“I get that. You’re a passionate person. That’s pretty obvious.” And he certainly wanted to see more of that passion… in a much more personal way. The fire behind Dade’s eyes was enticing; and Cliff’s heart beat faster, and his skin warmed just thinking about it. Cliff liked so much more than how Dade looked. The man was beautiful, though, with his dark hair and intense eyes. But it was his courage and conviction that Cliff found truly attractive.
Dade took another bite of his sandwich, chewed, and swallowed. “Let’s talk about something other than my father.”
“Like what?” Cliff asked, looking into Dade’s eyes. “We can talk about anything you like. We could talk about how good the food is… or what flavor of ice cream is the best.”
“Strawberry,” Dade said, but Cliff ignored it with a smile.
“We could talk about…oh, I don’t know… what your lips would taste like right now if I were to kiss you.”
Dade chuckled. “That’s easy. Onions. Same as yours, because we’re both eating this sandwich. But when we get home, I’m willing to try.” He smiled, and they finished eating, with Dade continuing to flirt with him and Cliff giving it right back.
Once they were done and he paid, they drove to the south side of town and parked at the beginning of the trail that wound out along the LeTort Spring Run. The sun was bright, but as soon as they got under the trees with their changing leaves, it grew cooler. Still, it was nice, the wind rustling the branches above, and once they passed under the freeway, it got quieter and the sounds of the birds and trees took over.
“I love it out here. Sometimes I ride my bike or just walk back here.” Cliff took Dade’s hand, grateful that there was no one around. They walked together for a while until they reached the bridge over the stream.
Cliff leaned against the railing, watching as the water flowed under them. Dade stood right next to him, geese and ducks floating in the water nearby. “Look,” Dade said quietly, pointing to a turtle sunning itself on a limb that stuck out of the water. “It won’t be long, and they’ll hibernate for the winter.”
“Yeah, I get that. Fall is definitely here, and winter will be just around the corner.” He turned to Dade and swallowed hard. Every time he got close to him, his throat went dry and his hands felt clammy. He rubbed them on his jeans to dry them before leaning closer. Dade met him halfway, and their lips touched.
Dade deepened the kiss, pressing against him, his fingers sliding along Cliff’s cheek. Holy hell, he hadn’t known quite what to expect, but he hadn’t planned that Dade would be the aggressor. He pressed Cliff back against the railing, sucking on Cliff’s lower lip and sending him into overdrive.
Cliff closed his arms around Dade, holding him tighter as their kiss intensified even further. His entire body reacted, and he was tempted to drag Dade into the woods and strip the man down right there. It was a bad idea, but Cliff’s primal instincts took over, and he didn’t want this to stop. Just kissing Dade evoked some of the most intense feelings of his life.
A bell caught his attention, and Cliff pulled away as a group of bicyclists approached. He stepped out of the way and put his arm around Dade as they passed. “Do you want to continue on?”
